Pimp My Space

Just before Easter, I made a major purchase. I wanted a "real" chair, since most of my furniture is made out of wire or can be screwed together with an L-wrench. So I got a giant chair that one can stretch out on and relax. I promised myself, and 文大猊 concurred, that it's worth the investment because I'm going to keep it forever. Anyway, it's more useful than a tatoo...Am I right, or am I right? (click to enlarge any picture)


The chair, however, posed a problem for my tiny apartment. Namely, it started getting a little claustrophobic. Note the two feet between the chair and the couch. I was a bull in a china shop trying to walk around my apartment. Note that the birdcage is in the right corner (covered for the night).
Before:


The table is now in the bottom right corner. Note all the space between the brown chair and table. After:


The rest of the room wasn't much better. Note the two feet between the table and the chair. Before:


The table is in the bottom right corner outside of the frame. Note the room by the door and the space in the middle and bottom right.


I think there is enough space to move the couch up to watch TV with boyfriends. The birds are a little unsure, but what cockatiel doesn't love being more the center of attention? Plus, the new cage location is a good staging area for flights to exotic locations, like the curtain rod, and the top of the big wire shelving unit.

-吴碧芙

Love Nest

I spent about 2 weeks in Iowa with my family. The birds got to stay with Grampa, which was fun for all three, I think.

I remember in some of my school breaks, my mom and I have done sewing projects. On Winter Break during my freshman year of college, we made a quilt with a faux fur backing, which served me well all through college and grad school and which I still have with me in my apartment.

Over this break, I wanted to try a smaller project, having seen a bird hut on the internet. I measured and cut a pattern out of newspaper. I chose some scrap fabric. We guessed and discussed how everything would fit together. Mom did the sewing and decorative details. We put hearts on the sides, and trimmed it with excess orange bias tape.


I hung it in the cage for a few days. Generally birds are afraid of new things and bright colors, but I think since Kavi and Roscoe have each other, they are less skittish around new toys, etc. I didn't have a long enough perch, though. The perch would need to extend out of the doorway, so they would be able to climb inside.

When I finally found a perch that would extend out of the house, and got everything set up, Kavi was still unsure, but Roscoe was not at all too shy to try it out. He slept inside the whole night (I could tell from the droppings), and Kavi slept on the uncovered end of the new perch. Roscoe was nice enough to pose for a photo, but I don't think he has spent any more time inside since the first night.


So photogenic...


Besides that, I started grad school. Kavi was a good kitty, and perched on my lap while I studied tonight. I have five classes, and all five meet on Wednesday. Wednesday being the first day of class, it was like being thrown into the fire. So far, I've learned about how hard and terrible grad school is going to be.

-吴碧芙

A Scientifical Study of Giant Birds by Roscoe

I want to write about our recent findings in the field of giant birds. For about a year, I've lived with my companion Kavi, and we have a giant bird who helps us. Kavi observes the giant birds and explains his findings about their behaviour. My work focuses on gathering information about breed and coloring. From my observations it is obvious to me that our giant bird is a giant green Conure, although Kavi doesn't agree. I have seen strong evidence for my hypothesis:
Exhibit A: Brilliant green fathers


Exhibit B: Another instance of green feathers


It's hard to say why these feathers change depending on the day. That's why Kavi says we can't tell which breed it is, based on feathers that are changeable. For a long time we didn't know if it was a girl or a boy. Eventually we found out that it's a boy, because he has a mate, and they are obviously of a dimorphic breed, with the female (left) having less brilliant coloring than the male (right):


The last observation is about head and face feathers. The male's head feathers are bright, like his other feathers, but the female has cheek feathers, that match her head feathers, obviously for camoflaging her in the nest.

Good luck foraging!
Roscoe

A Well-Stocked Cupboard

This weekend was the first time in a long time that we have been homework-free, and the weather was beautiful. So we had a classy picnic. We took the Wildflower Sweet Potato sandwiches and magazines and books. It was a really beautiful day in the park by a small stream.

We had a great time on Saturday night making apple pie. I asked MK in DM to send the recipe, since he makes the best apple pie, which isn't too sweet. We had a bit of overflow with the filling, so we also made some pretty intense apple crisp too.


It was pretty delicious.


Tonight I decided to use up some pumpkin from the freezer to make muffins. I let Kavi sit on top of the refrigerator, and he was pretty happy there. Then when I opened the cupboard, he flew straight up to the top shelf. It was the first time he'd ever considered going into the cupboard. I don't keep anything on the top shelf because I'm normal-person-sized. He whistled a lot up there, probably checking out the awesome acoustic properties. This is my "bare ingredients" cupboard.


-吴碧芙

Yes I Can!

It's been a few crazy weeks of homework and trying to organize my life. I had to decide on a grad. school by Wednesday. I had kind of made my decision, all except the final step of putting my signature on the paper and handing it in. Since it's now written in stone, the Internet can also know that I'm staying put for next year. I'll be in the same apartment complex, but I got an opening for a one-bedroom apartment. I'll be moving a few doors down at the end of May.

With the decision behind me, I feel a little more relaxed and more able to enjoy the grueling weeks ahead as the semester winds to a close.

Kavi likes to climb. In fact, I think he prefers it to flying. I made a video of him climbing from the floor to the couch. I think you can really see the decision-making process in his mind, as he eventually decides to go for it. Blogger is not cooperating again, so I'm providing a link.
"Yes I Can!" Video

-吴碧芙

Love is in the Air

The days are getting longer, and the birds seem to have noticed the scent of spring. They have started vying for the attention of any available female birds, and finding none, started vying for the attention of any available female of any species. Finding my attention divided (or tri-vided, as the case may be), they started vying for each other's attention. Finding themselves to be uncomfortable with that prospect, they cycle back to looking for female birds. Roscoe, in particular, has been updating his eharmony profile, starting with "talents: able to whistle loudly in high pitches and flap wings at the same time." He started doing this while Kavi was sitting on my knee on the couch, and he was alone on top of the cage.

Blogger has been tetchy about uploading vids, so I'm linking to my YouTube this time:
"Roscoe the Stud" Vid It's a little dark, but you get the idea.

-MsLin

Kavi Sings

Today I had a paper due and an exam. After that I did a file review for homework in another class. All these tasks meant that I didn't get home until 5:00 pm today. When I was in China, I tried to try something new every day. Life in any new place, where you don't know many people and you don't know all the good places, can get a little boring and depressing. My something new today was to go check out the fitness center, which is located in this cute little stadium they have here. I got a good EFX workout while reading Bitch. The fitness center is free to students, and everyone knows how much I love my EFX.

When I came back, I needed a shower. Since I had noticed that Kavi's voice seems to get better with moist air, I let the birds sit on the counter, but they eventually flew up and perched on the curtain rod.

Kavi's voice goes in and out, sometimes he sounds like he has something stuck in his throat and can only make popping peep noises. Other times, his voice is low and scratchy. Occasionally, he says, "Hi Kavi," in his usual high and pure chirpy voice. Since he's been with me, he hasn't done any whistling, presumeably because he can't, or it hurts his throat. I whistle his favorite songs to him anyway.

When I got out of the shower, I heard the old chirpy voice say, "Hi Kavi...I love you...Pretty Birdy...Kavi whistle...C'mon." He started whistling, just like he used to, and I ran to get a quick vid. Kavi is on the right side of the picture. You can hear Kavi saying his name, making kissing noises, and whistling the Iowa Fight Song toward the end of the vid. Roscoe is also whistling, which is strange for him, as he usually screeches or makes vocal calls. I haven't been this excited since baby Bucket used the litter box.


This video is also available on YouTube under "Kavi Sings" for the blogospherely challenged.

-吴碧芙

Roscoe Pitches a Tent

I've been trying to capture this video for the past few days, with good lighting, and without distracting the star of the show. This is one of Roscoe's favorite games, and he will hide under the paper for a few minutes at a time, singing, before climbing out again.


I had an interview today, which went well, I think. I'm going to observe the job on Thursday, to see if I think I will like it.

-吴碧芙

Two Birdies

Well, I moved to SD on Saturday and started classes yesterday. Classes seem good, but undergrad classes have a lot of work in them. I got Kavi back, along with his friend Roscoe. Both are sweet, but Roscoe is kind of a stinker. His mischief is cute, though. I let them out whenever I'm home. They have clipped wings, but Roscoe flies with no problem, I guess he just figures he has to try a little harder, but it works. They mimic each other and like to be in the same room at least. When Roscoe flew into my bedroom and didn't know where he was, he screamed and Kavi screamed back, although that was the only time I've heard Kavi scream these days. Kavi might have an infection, and he's been quiet but affectionate lately.

Kavi (left) and Roscoe

This morning I let them stay on the counter in the bathroom while I was getting ready. Roscoe checked out the sink, but then they both sat on the counter, and Kavi preened Roscoe. I thought I would check out the video feature on blogger and let you see how cute they are. If the video doesn't work, I'm including a still.



Roscoe wants Kavi to preen him all the time, but Roscoe doesn't like to be petted by people. Kavi will take a pet from anyone. It's what one might call the "chain of preening."

I don't have internet or TV at my apartment. I'm at the library now with plans to buy my books after this. I've already met a few people on campus through the International Student Group. One of the international students is a returning student like me, so we have some of the same classes.

-MsLin